Rural Hospitals (4-17-20)

Rural Hospitals (4-17-20)

Hospitals are battling two wars -- one for health and the other for money.

The president of missouri's hospital association says even with the federal stimulus money -- it's only a matter of days before hospitals across the state run out of money.

Here's how that impacts rural hospitals.

The pandemic has killed more than 33-thousand americans as it sweeps the country health experts worry covid-19 may kill hospitals too.dr. jon doolittle, president mosaic medical center - albany: "quote."doctor john doolittle is the president of mosaic medical center in albany and part of missouri hospital association's leadership.dr. jon doolittle, president mosaic medical center - albany: "quote."statewide -- they are losing $32-million dollars..

Per day.elective procedures, routine care, normal emergency medicine -- all put on hold to prepare for a surge in coronavirus cases.

And hospitals -- for better or worse -- are businesses with bottom lines.dr. doolittle, mosaic life care- albany: "just adding up the math here, that's about a billion dollars per month in impact."before the pandemic -- nearly half of the country's rural hospitals were operating in the red.dr. jon doolittle, president mosaic medical center - albany: "quote."as rural hospitals brace for covid-19's impact -- the normal flow of patients -- once a thin stream of revenue -- is now a slow drip.dr. jon doolittle, president mosaic medical center - albany: "quote."

Doolittle says that while albany also operates on a slim margin -- it's fortunate because the hospital is backed by the entire mosaic system.

And he says-- that's not all -- he's thankful reporting in albany, madeline mcclain, kq2 news.

Dr. doolittle is the chair-elect for the board of the missouri state hospital association -- he officially takes over as chair